Parker's Two Inteceptions and Score Good Enough for Two NEC Weekly Awards
Loretto, Pa. – On Monday, October 29, 2007, the Northeast Conference awarded Matthew Parker (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk) the NEC Rookie-of-the-Week award for his exceptional play against Sacred Heart for the Red Flash’s first win of the season. On top of Parker’s first award, the young linebacker was also bestowed with the NEC Defensive Player-of-the-Week for his same efforts.
As of week nine of the season, Parker is the first player this season to win both the NEC Defensive Player and Rookie-of-the-Week awards during the same week. Parker made two monumental interceptions that translated into 14 points for Saint Francis’ first NEC victory over Sacred Heart. The rookie linebacker also made seven tackles (four solo) to help the Red Flash break into the win column. Parker made his first for Saint Francis, giving possession back at the Sacred Heart 27-yard line and set the stage for the game’s opening score. With SFU leading 28-10 early on in the fourth quarter, Parker picked off his second pass of the day and took it 61 yards for a touchdown that turned out to be the game-winning score. Parker’s 61-yard interception turned touchdown ranks 4th in Saint Francis history for longest interception return. In addition, the six-points denoted the first defensive touchdown for Saint Francis this season.
The two awards Parker received not only total four for the season, but it’s the first time in school history in which three newcomers have received Rookie-of-the-Week honors. Ryan Shepard (Kittaning, Pa./Kittaning) and Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) earned the decorations on Weeks 5 and 7, in that order.
Parker also ranks 8th in the conference with 8.1 tackles per game and is now 2nd in the league with 0.43 interceptions per game after pushing his season total to three. He’s also tied for 6th in the tackles for loss department with 1.00 per game.
It was only a matter of time before the vicious trio of defenders all received their due. Lewis, second in the country in tackles with 13.4 per game, and Shepard who is 13th in the league with 6.7 tackles per game definitely deserved the award. Parker’s first score which turned out to be the game winner was well deserving of the third Rookie-of-the-Week award for the Red Flash this year.